NBA: Assessing the highest-paid player for each NBA team – Part 1

With NBA teams scrambling to give themselves the best opportunity to strengthen under the salary cap, there are players on each respective team who deserve their numbers, but there are also those that don’t.

HoopsHype have released the figures involved for each team’s highest paid player, and there are some shocking names and numbers that crop up.

Ultimately, the business aspect of running the organisation is equally as important as it gives them the flexibility to assemble a well-rounded and talented team to put out on the court.

While the likes of the San Antonio Spurs have mastered the process over the years with significant sacrifice from their top players, there are other individuals around the league who take a huge chunk of the salary cap space.

Atlanta Hawks

Al Horford – $12m

Horford is a vital part of Atlanta’s team, and his salary is of a reasonable level to ensure that the likes of Millsap, Teague and many others can get their fair share.

Boston Celtics

Gerald Wallace – $10,105,855

Simply put, the Celtics got a lot of criticism for taking on Wallace’s contract and rightly so. They will look to use him as a bargaining chip in a trade deal.

Brooklyn Nets

Joe Johnson – $23,180,790

The expensive gamble in Brooklyn didn’t pay off, and now they are regrouping and rebuilding. Johnson was constantly linked with a move elsewhere, and as his numbers start to drop off, this is crazy money.

Charlotte Hornets

Al Jefferson – $13,500,000

Jefferson was a huge part of the Hornets’ success last year, and he is still a solid big man. Charlotte can live with this.

Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose – $18,862,876

If this was the 2010 version of Rose, it’s a no-brainer to pay him the big bucks. However, with so much uncertainty after three knee surgeries in three years, Chicago are in a tough spot with so much money tied up in their point guard.